Shadow Women Win WPSL Debut 2-0

Saturday, May 18, 2019

The Spokane Shadow Women’s First Team kicked off their inaugural season as members of the Women’s Premier Soccer League with a 2-0 victory Saturday at Spokane Falls CC Stadium in front of 457 fans on a chilly afternoon.

It was not much of a surprise that one of the players on the scoresheet at the final whistle was the incomparable Megan Lindsay (Seattle Pacific / Gonzaga Prep). She played a factor in both goals, getting the opener in the 26th minute and set up the clincher five minutes from time.

Juliana deTar (University of Idaho) delivered a low cross from the right corner to set up the opener, but Lindsay only got a piece of it and sent a slow effort at the keeper. Unfortunately, the visiting netminder, Sierra Bonham mishandled the ball and it trickled in over the line.

Spokane held an edge in the possession, but both sides found a bit of difficulty in creating quality looks at goal on a consistent basis. Vancouver created a couple dangerous chances in the 73rd minute on a corner that goalkeeper AJ Crooks (Alabama / Central Valley) knocked out of danger only to see it come at her on a follow-up chance that she calmly collected. Crooks would go on to make a few other clutch stopping, including racing out on several occasions to eliminate dangerous chances.

The match remained close, but in the end Lindsay locked up the result, she pushed her way into the box in the corner and dropped the ball back to an on-rushing Chloe Williams (Eastern Washington / Lewis & Clark), who unleashed a perfect shot from just outside the six with five minutes left.

Chloe Gellhaus (Seattle Pacific / East Valley) also nearly had two great chances in the game, sending a ripper off the crossbar 16 minutes into the match and unleashing a second chance opportunity off a corner in the 76th that went right to the keeper.

“For only having one real training session together I thought the players did exceptionally well in adapting to the way Vancouver Island played when they had the ball,” said head coach Kevin Moon. “It was great to see Megan Lindsay continue to be impactful by scoring a goal and helping create the opening that led to Chloe Williams’ goal. Chloe was great and I wish she were available for more games. She is always a threat! It was also great to see AJ play so well after being out for a year with an ACL injury. That shutout should give her a lot of confidence.”

The Shadow Women are idle next weekend before making a two-game trip to close out the month with a visit to face defending national champion Seattle Sounders Women and TSS of Vancouver. They return home June 16 to face ISC Gunners at SFCC at 2:00. The match will feature the debut of the Fan Zone featuring hundreds of prizes such as free slices of David’s Pizza, Kona Ice and Sounders scarves. Plus the Fan Zone will feature the GameTruck, Inflatables and a Speed Zone contest for the fastest strike.

Scoring Summary

Vancouver Island 0-2 Spokane Shadow
SPO: Megan Lindsay (Juliana deTar) 26
SPO: Chloe Williams (Megan Lindsay) 85
Shutout: AJ Crooks
Lineups
Spokane: AJ Crooks; Taryn Baxter, Emmy Moore, Grace Hancock; Larkin Russell, Taylor Brust, Chloe Gellhaus, Eme McLaughlin; Chloe Williams, Megan Lindsay, Juliana deTar – Substitutes used: Kelsey Crosby, Samantha Heilman, Courteney Shovlin, Payton Stiles.
Vancouver Island: Sierra Bonham (Cecilia Way); Kiana Swift, Olivia Swinton, Katie Carrothers, Liz Gregg, Rachel Baird, Mariel Solsberg, Ashley Volk, Mara McCleary, Madison Emmond – Substitutes used: Rachel Baird, Natalie Cavallin, Julia Babicz, Brea Christie, Natsu Yayama, Aislinn Shinomara

Community Support: Courtesy of Northern Capital Management, the leading sponsor for the Women’s First Team, all of the regular season WPSL Spokane Shadow matches will be free for attending fans. NCM is the first of many new area businesses and organizations supporting the women’s team this year. They are joined by: MultiCare Rockwood Integrated Sports Medicine, Clearwater Summit Group, Lyte Balance, BECU and Spokane Sports Commission.

The WPSL is in its 22nd season and is the largest women’s soccer league in the world with more than 100 clubs from coast-to-coast. WPSL rosters feature elite collegiate, post-collegiate, international and standout prep student-athletes. Many of the United States’ most accomplished women’s players have played in the WPSL, including household names such as Alex Morgan, Abby Wambach, Megan Rapinoe, Julie Foudy and Brandi Chastain.

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